As you step into the city of Haridwar you’ll be welcomed with the chimes of the temple bells and the religious chanting of the priests.
The Haridwar city has a religious significance as the holy river Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time in Haridwar. Thereby making its former name 'Gangadwara' perfect in every sense.
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Revered as one among the seven holiest places of India, Haridwar that literally suggests the ‘Gateway to Lord Vishnu’ is cradled on the banks of river Ganga. Haridwar is also spelled as Haridwar or Hari-Dwar.
Haridwar is often mentioned in ancient scriptures and even referred to during British times. With Ujjain, Nasik, and Allahabad, Haridwar forms the four important pilgrimage centers of India where Kumbh Mela is celebrated here after every 3 years rotated over these 4 destinations. Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in Haridwar in 2022. Haridwar is referred to as the Mayapuri, Gangadwar, Mokhsadwar in ancient writings.
Early mornings in Haridwar feel peaceful and spiritually uplifting. The ghats slowly come alive with devotees taking holy dips, temple bells ringing in the background and the cool breeze flowing beside the Ganga.
Walking near Har Ki Pauri during sunrise is considered one of the most calming experiences in the city.
Haridwar serves as the Gateway to the Char Dhams of Uttarakhand. The 'Panch Tirth' or the five pilgrimages located within the periphery of Haridwar are Gangadwara (Har Ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat), Kankhal, Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi).
Other famous attractions include the Chandi Devi temple, Maya Devi temple, Piran Kaliyar, Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar, Bhimgoda Tank, Bharat Mata Mandir, etc. Haridwar is one of the best places to head to if you are in a quest for peace and spirituality. One can do temple hopping, stroll along the river banks, have a holy dip in the Ganges or enjoy the serene atmosphere of the heavenly place.
You can visit some of the sacred Hindu temples and ashrams or rejuvenate your senses at the Ayurveda and Yoga centers. The auspicious Ganga Arti held at Har ki Pauri is a sight to behold, as the city is drenched in the divine aura of the glittering diyas and the ambiance is accentuated by the chanting of the mantras to appease the gods.
The tiny diyas bedecked by flowers appear as if thousands of lamps are set to float in the river. Haridwar also has a lot in store for the adventure enthusiasts as Rajaji National Park and Rishikesh are located on the outskirts of Haridwar.
Haridwar offers a rare combination of spirituality, peace and simplicity that keeps drawing people back. Some visit for religious reasons, while others come to sit quietly beside the Ganga, attend the evening Aarti or simply escape the fast pace of city life.
The spiritual energy and calm atmosphere of the city create a connection that feels deeply personal for many visitors.
Haridwar is one of the most visited pilgrimage place in India. As such, there is no dearth of accommodation options in Haridwar as one can find a variety of accommodations according to his budget.
There are many luxurious hotels and resorts available with all modern facilities and amenities. Semi-deluxe and budget guesthouses with limited amenities are peppered all over Haridwar. List of hotels in Haridwar.
Being a popular destination both for tourists and pilgrims, there are a number of restaurants and eating out places in Haridwar. However, being a place of religious significance, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited in Haridwar. Luxurious hotels tend to serve a variety of cuisines at their in-house restaurants. There are plenty of local restaurants spread all over Haridwar that serve lip-smacking vegetarian dishes.
Following is the list of some of the most popular and much preferred eating out places in Haridwar:
Bhagwati's Chhole Bhature, Mohan Puri Wala, Sindh Dugdh Bhandar, Chotiwala Restaurant, Aahaar Restaurant, Bestee Restaurant, Motel Rahi's Restaurant, Brij Mathura Walla and Mohan's Fast Food
Haridwar is a living example of one such historical city that hasn’t been erased by the tides of time. The city has been mentioned in several Hindu texts, scriptures, and books from the times of Buddha to the British invasion. It was ruled by the Maurya Empire (322-185 BCE), followed by the Kushan Empire (c. 1st-3rd centuries).
In the Archaeological surveys, it was found that terra cotta culture thrived in Haridwar between 1700 BCE and 1200 BCE. Haridwar also finds its mention in the travel journals of the famous ancient explorers. During King Harshavardhan's rule (590-647) when Chinese traveler, Hsuan Tsang visited India in 629 A.D., he cited Haridwar as ‘Mo-yu-lo’ and also mentioned that there was a temple called 'Gangadwara' which stood in the north of Mo-yu-lo.
During the reign of Emperor Jahangir (1596-1627) Thomas Coryat, an English traveler who visited the city mentioned it as ‘Haridwar’, the capital of Lord Shiva. The city was first connected with railways via Laksar, through branch line in 1886. In 2000, Haridwar became a part of the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand which was carved out as a separate state from Uttar Pradesh.
As per Hindu mythology, during the Samudra Manthan or the churning of the ocean, the precious drops of elixir or Amrit which carried the boon of immortality were accidentally spilled at four sites i.e Ujjain, Nasik, Allahabad, and Haridwar. To commemorate this event, Kumbh Mela, and Maha Kumbh Mela, the mass Hindu pilgrimages of faith is celebrated once in three years and once in 12 years at one of the four places respectively. It is believed that Brahma Kund situated at Har Ki Pauri is the place where the drops of elixir fell.
Besides temples and ghats, Haridwar also offers local street food, traditional markets, yoga centers and peaceful riverside experiences. Travelers often spend evenings exploring local bazaars, tasting North Indian snacks and enjoying the spiritual atmosphere around the city.
Its location as the gateway to the Himalayas also makes Haridwar an important stop before visiting Rishikesh and Char Dham destinations.
Haridwar is an ancient city and a Municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. It is also the headquarters and the largest city of Haridwar district. Haridwar showcases a vivid topography, with the mighty Himalayas on one side and the plains on the other.
This holy city is emerging as a developing industrial estate as the State Industrial Development of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and other affiliated ancillaries are situated here.
Shopping is an activity in which a customer chooses the goods or services according to his taste or budget. There are many markets in Haridwar where tourist can purchase goods according to their taste. The names of the markets are:
Check out the Haridwar weather report for July
The minimun and maximum temperature in July in Haridwar is 23°C and 31°C respectively. The weather is generally cloudy and rains in July and you would feel humid throughout the day. Summer Clothes clothes are recommended for Haridwar in July.
Haridwar is famous among tourist as Pilgrimage, Temples, Kumbh Mela, Ganga River, Ganga Aarti, Religious, Holy City.
Haridwar is recommended destination for Couples, Foreigners, Groups, Solo.
Haridwar is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Business Hub, Destination Wedding, Religious, Ropeways, Shopping, Temples, Weekend Getaway.
